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Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter is the ultimate monument to the biggest movie series of all time and a must for every Harry Potter fan. Set in the colossal studios where all eight of the Potter films were shot is an astonishing collection of props, costumes and sets that will amaze even the most apathetic of visitors. Opening in spring 2012, the tour took less than a year to attract a million visitors and the numbers are far from dwindling. Situated just outside of London, the nearest station to the tour is Watford Junction, a 20 minute train ride from London Euston. Prices are fixed throughout the year at £30 for adults and £22.50 for under 16 year olds, with packages available for families. Tickets must be booked in advance. An audio guide is available to hire, narrated by Draco Malfoy actor, Tom Felton. At the end of the tour is a vast gift shop offering a vast range of merchandise including a number of items exclusive to the tour.
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- Enjoy Breakfast at Hogwarts This Summer! - For the first time, the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter will be opening its doors to visitors in time for breakfast with a very special event.
- Warner Bros. Studio Tour to Celebrate Fifteenth Anniversary of "Philosopher's Stone"! - Has it really been fifteen years since The Boy Who Lived first appeared on-screen? It feels like Harry, Ron and Hermione have always been there for us, and now, Warner Bros. Studio Tour London is offering fans of the film franchise an opportunity to retrace the trio's footsteps on their journey to find the Philosopher's Stone.
Spread across three sections, the tour commences with two short videos: the first describing the journey from the book to the screen, the second a short feature introducing the tour and hosted by Radcliffe, Watson, and Grint. You enter the tour through some rather recognizable doors and into the Great Hall. After a brief speech from your tour guide, you are let free into the "Big Room" to enjoy the exhibit at your own pace. This room features a number of iconic sets still in existence after ten years of shooting. This includes the Gryffindor Common Room, the boys' dormitory, and Dumbledore's Office, amongst many notable others. The Big Room also provides the opportunity to purchase prints of you riding a broomstick against a variety of background.
After this comes the Backlot where you pose with the Ford Anglia, Sirius' bike, and the Knight Bus before enjoying a refreshing butterbeer from one of the food and drinks stalls available. The next few sections offer a more detailed explanation of the production process including Creature Effects, the Arts Department, and the Model Room, with Diagon Alley sandwiched in between. The piece de resistance is the breathtaking hand sculpted 1:24 scale construction of Hogwarts followed up the thousands of wand boxes, each labelled with a cast or crew member from the film series. It is at this point that you enter the gift shop.
The Studio Tour regularly hosts special events and activities to coincide with public and school holidays. See below for MuggleNet's exclusive reviews of these features.
For the first time, the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter will be opening its doors to visitors in time for breakfast with a very special event. Breakfast at Hogwarts, which will take place on Sunday, August 21 and 28, 2016, will allow visitors to enjoy a special breakfast in front of the Hogwarts model and access to the tour itself, including a special photograph in the Great Hall, before the day's visitors arrive.
Here's some more about what guests can expect to enjoy.
Tickets include a choice of bucks fizz, tea, coffee, juice and smoothies as well as breakfast canapés at the Hogwarts [C]astle model, a souvenir photograph in the Great Hall, a tankard of [b]utterbeer in the backlot café, the chance to explore the Studio Tour before the public, a souvenir guidebook and a free return shuttle bus to Watford Junction. A free cloakroom is also available.
The press release for the event reveals further details.
After breakfast, guests will be given early access to the Studio Tour, where the Great Hall will be specially dressed for breakfast as it was in the magical film series right down to the boxes of Pixie Puffs and Cheeri Owls on the trestle tables. Guests will be joined in the Great Hall by staff members dressed in full Hogwarts' [sic] uniforms for a complimentary souvenir photograph at the breakfast table.
Make sure to check out the full breakfast menu, which includes everything from sausages and hash browns to yogurt and fresh fruit! The set menu, as well as more details about the event, including an itinerary for the morning, can be viewed here.
The Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter has always put on a good festive show. This coming Christmas is no exception – Hogwarts in the Snow is once again returning to the studios for a limited time only.
As part of the event, visitors will be able to see plenty of festive treats throughout the tour, including eight Christmas trees in the Great Hall as well as
wreaths and garlands, trees decked with golden baubles and topped with witches on miniature broomsticks, as well as a replica feast. One side of the Great Hall will be dedicated to savoury props, featuring roast turkeys, hams studded with cherries[,] and bowls of potatoes, while the other will be devoted to sweet treats including flaming Christmas puddings and iced cakes.
Plus, for the first time
the Goblet of Fire will emerge from its original jewelled casket, rigged by special effects experts, and will be 'lit' with flames that change from blue to red.
The feature begins on November 13 and will run until January 31, 2016. Read our previous Hogwarts in the Snow report to find out more about previous events and what you can expect this Christmas.
A few days ago, the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter teased on Twitter that an exciting announcement would be coming up this week. The time has finally arrived, with the Tour revealing that this December an extra special event will be taking place in the Great Hall. If you've always wanted to enjoy a great feast in the Great Hall like all your favorite Harry Potter characters, then this is the event for you and an opportunity not to be missed.
The Tour has announced that this December 3, Dinner in the Great Hall will take place for the first time. Intrigued? Here's some more about the event and what the night will include:
Join us this Christmas for our first Dinner in the Great Hall, and experience something extra special as you're greeted on arrival with welcome drinks and canapés, before dining in the iconic set that is the Great Hall.
The Hogwarts dining room will be dressed for the occasion with the original props used in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, including flaming Christmas puddings and hams studded with cherries. A wand will be waiting for you at your table, and you'll enjoy the first two courses of a delicious Christmas dinner with all the trimmings on the authentic set (vegetarian option also available).
The exclusive event also includes after-dinner access to the rest of the tour and dessert on Platform 9 ¾, as well as dancing and drinks! The menu for the evening is available below:
The itinerary for the event, which kicks off at 6 p.m. and will run until midnight, is as follows:
5:40 p.m. Catch the shuttle bus from Watford Junction train station (£2 return).
Free parking is available at the attraction for those traveling by car.
6:00 p.m. Arrive at the Studio Tour's lobby for welcome drinks and canapés.
6:30 p.m. Enjoy the holding room and cinema experience.
6:50 p.m. Enter the original Great Hall set.
7:00 p.m. Take your seat with other excited Harry Potter fans as you enjoy a delicious two-course Christmas dinner.
Your chosen replica wand will be ready for you at your table (five characters available).
8:45 p.m. Explore the remainder of the Studio Tour and enjoy a selection of puddings on Platform 9 ¾ as well as a glass of butterbeer.
10:15 p.m. Conclude the evening with music and dancing (a bar will be available for those who wish to purchase additional drinks).
Midnight. Depart (shuttle buses will return to Watford Junction train station)
The Warner Bros. Studio Tour London- The Making of Harry Potter always puts on a good special feature for special occasions – such as the recent Sweets and Treats feature and the September film screenings. This Halloween is no exception – the Studio Tour is promising a spooky Dark Arts special.
The Studio Tour will host a special two-week Dark Arts feature this October, running between Friday, October 16 and Sunday, November 1. During the two weeks, visitors to the studios will be able to
try their duelling techniques against a Death Eater after learning wand combat moves in an interactive experience created by Paul Harris. Paul developed the battle scenes involving You-Know-Who's henchmen in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and is the world's only wand combat choreographer.
Wand making demonstrations will also take place, and lurking in Diagon Alley there will be
Death Eaters in the shadows of the wizarding shopping street while, elsewhere in the attraction, dark props from sinister antique shop Borgin and Burkes will be showcased, including the Vanishing Cabinet (the Death Eaters' secret entrance to Hogwarts) and the Hand of Glory (a gnarled artefact that gives light only to the holder).
There will be plenty of other spooky things going on around the tour, from Dementors on Platform 9 3/4 to ghosts in the Great Hall, where all the tables will be set for a delicious Halloween feast. You will be able to find out how the Dementors were brought to life, alongside many other filmmaking secrets.
You can read our review of the opening of the permanent Dark Arts section here, which will give a glimpse of what to expect this coming Halloween!
Summer is almost over… and that means it's almost time for the Back to School event at the London Studio Tour! Starting September 10 and running through September 20, the return of this popular feature will allow visitors to take part in design and story-boarding workshops.
From the Studio Tour website:
Back by popular demand, this special feature offers you the opportunity to make a simple card model, like those used in the early stage of the design process, and create a storyboard for your own original story idea.
Take part in set design and storyboarding workshops this September as we go #BackToSchool! Our special feature takes place […] 10th – 20th September[;] visit our website for more information or to book tickets. #HarryPotter #WBTourLondon
A photo posted by Warner Bros. Studio Tour (@wbtourlondon) on
The Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter always put on a fantastic array of events over the course of the year, and its recent line-up of events is no different. Last year the Studio Tour ran special screenings of the Harry Potter films for the first time, so we are excited to be able to announce that the film screenings will be running again this year.
The Studio Tour announced today that a series of screenings will be taking place this coming September. The films will be screened over a week, starting on September 19, with Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, and ending on September 26 with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2.
Tickets for the screenings can be booked on the Studio Tour website and must be purchased in advance. Your special ticket will include entry to the Tour itself, as well as a butterbeer, a hot snack, a soft drink, and popcorn – and of course entry to the film itself!
Last night, the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter officially launched the new Hogwarts Express feature with a special event. MuggleNet was among the guests, which included Mark Williams (Arthur Weasley), Oliver and James Phelps (Fred and George Weasley), and Warwick Davis (Professor Flitwick and Griphook). Other guests included David Heyman (Producer, Movies 1-8) and David Yates (Director, Movies 5-8).
The Warner Bros. CEO, Kevin Tsujihara, gave a speech at the event, which was hosted by British television presenter Alex Zane.
.@alex_zane kicks off the speeches @wbtourlondon. #HogwartsExpress pic.twitter.com/yxF94V27EG
— MuggleNet Live! (@MuggleNetLive) March 17, 2015
In his speech, the CEO spoke about the Studios, the future of Leavesden, and the importance of the UK in its success:
"The UK and Leavesden Studios are our creative home from home." WB CEO @wbtourlondon. #HogwartsExpress pic.twitter.com/4wA66XIqOH
— MuggleNet Live! (@MuggleNetLive) March 17, 2015
Of course, Tsujihara also spoke about the new Hogwarts Express feature, saying that it is
an example of the creativity and craftsmanship that exists [sic] here.
He also talked about J.K. Rowling, stating,
Jo couldn't be here tonight, but she's here in spirit. This place embodies the world of Harry Potter and brings it to life.
On Fantastic Beasts, which will be filmed at the Leavesden studios, Tsujihara said,
[Beasts] is really a wonderful gift from [J.K. Rowling] to the fans, and we are a part of it. It is like Star Wars. It is not exactly a linear story but an adjacent story. And Jo wrote [the film version of Beasts] herself, which is just absolutely amazing, and she is so talented. You see the passion that everyone has for the world that she has created, and it's just fantastic to extend it.
Finally, he spoke about the company's plans for the future:
Right now, we are focused on Fantastic Beasts. And Jo has a storyline in her head, and right now, we are letting her go [with it].
You can read more from Tsujihara's speech here.
Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter has once again announced that the animal actors will be returning to the tour this February for the third year running. The event will take place between Friday, February 13 and Wednesday, February 25, which will coincide with the British half-term school holiday. Among the animal actors present at the tour will be Harry's owl Hedwig, Hermione's cat Crookshanks, Trevor the toad, and Mrs. Norris – plus many more!
The animal actors will:
team up with their trainers to showcase their acting skills and take part in live training demonstrations. A menagerie of owls, cats and a toad will return to the incredible sets they 'acted' on during production, led by Head Animal Trainer Julie Tottman, who helped create the performances of more than 250 live creatures throughout all eight Harry Potter films.
Visitors will have the opportunity to meet various animals throughout the tour, and the event will include the chance to have a picture with Hedwig:
Outside Privet Drive, visitors will be able to pose for a picture with a [s]nowy [o]wl that played Harry Potter's loyal companion and post-delivering bird Hedwig. Animal [t]rainers will hold flight demonstrations throughout the day on the Studio Tour's backlot, showcasing the techniques they used during filming.
Plus, throughout the day, visitors will learn new facts about the animal actors and the making of the films. For example, did you know that
Crackerjack, one of the cats that played Crookshanks, became very good friends with one of the rats that played Scabbers. In fact, he would often chase the rat around the sets even when the cameras weren't rolling.
Last year, snow took over the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter for the first time. This year, by popular demand, the snowy feature will be returning to the studios from Friday, November 14 until Sunday, February 2.
The most magical snowfall of the season will return to Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter this year as the breathtaking Hogwarts castle model is covered in a blanket of snow.
Not only will Hogwarts be covered in snow and the Great Hall given a festive makeover, but also,
for the first time at the Studio Tour, the film series'[s] Special Effects Department will use coloured lights and a special vapour that flickers and dances to create 'fire' in the Great Hall and Gryffindor common room fireplaces. Meanwhile, real flames will lick the plum puddings on display in the Great Hall.
Also on display will be:
the hand-knitted jumpers that Molly Weasley gave Ron and Harry for Christmas in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. Other costumes on display will include one of the first Christmas presents Harry ever received at Hogwarts, his Invisibility Cloak, and the dress Luna Lovegood wore to the Slug Club Christmas party in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.
This summer, to cap off a visit to the WB Studio Tour there will be special screenings of all eight Potter films. The film screenings will take place each Monday and Tuesday beginning on July 7 and run for eight weeks through August 26. From the press release:
Every Monday and Tuesday from 7th July until 26th August, visitors to these exclusive screenings will begin by exploring the Studio Tour (which includes a chance to taste butterbeer) before grabbing a hot snack, popcorn and a drink and then settling down in the Studio Tour's cinema to watch their chosen film.
The dates for each film screening are as follows:
July 7 & 8: Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
July 14 & 15: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
July 21 & 22: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
July 28 & 29: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
August 4 & 5: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
August 11 & 12: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
August 18 & 19: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1
August 25 & 26: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2
A week before the Summer Screenings began the Studio Tour held a VIP screening of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. The event was attended by Potter alumnus Warwick Davis, along with other celebrities, including Idris Elba, James Buckley, Jonathan Ross, Jill Halfpenny, and Jamelia.
Guests were also treated to a VIP tour of the studios, during which actor Idris Elba confessed that if could play any Potter character he would choose Hagrid.
To kick off its second year, from March 28 to March 30, the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter will feature special guests Miraphora Mina and Eduardo Lima!
To celebrate our second anniversary, graphic designers Miraphora Mina and Eduardo Lima will be on hand at the Studio Tour to demonstrate the creative processes they used to develop the graphic style of the Harry Potter film series. You'll be able to take a closer look at some of the iconic graphics they created, including issues of the Daily Prophet, the Marauder's Map, fanciful Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes products and wickedly enchanting books.
The Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter has announced this week that the popular animal actors are set to return to Hogwarts this February! The animals will be at the studio tour for a limited time only, between February 14 and February 24, 2014.
A few of the animals trained for the movies by Head Animal Trainer Julie Tottman will make an appearance on the sets. The announcement on the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London website tells us more about which animals will be present and what visitors can expect from the experience:
Visitors to the Gryffindor common room set will find it occupied by a cat that played stealthy Mrs. Norris, the toad that played Neville Longbottom's pet Trevor and a number of rats – trained using the same process as those who played Ron Weasley's pet Scabbers.
The ginger cat that played Hermione Granger's bandy-legged feline Crookshanks will be seen on Diagon Alley.
A Neapolitan Mastiff, trained like those that played Hagrid's loyal dog Fang, will be stationed outside the half-giant's hut.
Visitors will also be able to pose for a picture with a Snowy Owl who played Harry Potter's letter-delivering owl Hedwig.
Visitors will also be able to watch live training demonstrations and learn how the animals learned to act by seeing the equipment and tricks used by the trainers.
In honor of back-to-school season, the Warner Bros. Studio Tour in London is offering special filmmaking workshops! From Sept. 6 – Sept. 26, visitors to the Studio Tour will not only enjoy seeing all of the amazing sets and props from Harry Potter in person, but they will also be able to take part in a variety of set design and storyboard workshops. Different opportunities include making white card models, creating story boards, and learning about the specific camera and post-production techniques used to create the magical world of Harry Potter!
Additionally, the Studio Tour will be celebrating back-to-school by dressing a section of the Great Hall just as it was during the O.W.L. examinations, as seen in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix! Staff members of the Tour will don authentic robes used in filming, and visitors will be able to try on replica robes for themselves.
The Studio Tour also gave a select group of 11 year olds a very special back-to-school gift.
Today we were thrilled to invite over 250 year 7 students to have their very first school assembly in the Great Hall! pic.twitter.com/dgCfHgUa1C
— WB Tour London (@wbtourlondon) September 6, 2013
This summer, Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter invites visitors to delve into the world of spell casting, potions, and wizard duels as it hosts its first Summer Spells feature. Visitors will discover first-hand how spells such as Wingardium Leviosa came to life on screen and how the wand movements that accompanied them were developed.
Knowledgeable staff members will be on hand to teach wand battle choreography, aided by an interactive experience created by choreography expert Paul Harris. Paul composed the battle scene between Dumbledore (Michael Gambon) and Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and is the world's only wand combat choreographer.
Those exploring Diagon Alley will be able to take part in a special effects demonstration created by BAFTA-winning special effects supervisor John Richardson. By pointing a wand, visitors will be able to cast a spell that will make the sign above Potage's Cauldron Shop bang and flash as if by magic.
In scenes where a character conjured his or her Patronus – a protective charm which usually takes the form of an animal and shields the wizard against Dementors – actors such as Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter, whose Patronus was a stag) and Emma Watson (Hermione Granger, who casts an otter Patronus) had to use their imagination; Patronuses were created post-filming using CGI. The cast were, however, aided by an Irish Wolfhound dressed in a specially-made costume which helped them visualize the glowing effect of a Patronus. This will be on display at the Studio Tour for the first time throughout the Summer Spells feature.
Spellbinding secrets:
- In the first and second films, the wands looked quite plain. This was drastically changed in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, when the wands were given distinctive shapes and carvings, reflecting the owners' personalities. For example, the wand of Professor Slughorn (Jim Broadbent) is inlaid with silver slug trails and has a slug-shaped handle.
- Some of the cast of the Harry Potter film series had their own ideas about how their characters' wands should look. Actor Ralph Fiennes said he wanted Voldemort's wand to look like an evil finger pointing off into the distance; this influence can be seen in the wand he used on screen, which appears to be made of bone.
- Over the course of the films the prop team created thousands of wands. Rumor has it they never lost a single one – though Daniel Radcliffe wore out over 60 wands during the making of the film series.
- Hundreds of potion jars line the walls of the Potions classroom, which can be seen at the Studio Tour. Among the ingredients kept in them are plastic animals from a zoo gift shop, baked animal bones from a local butcher shop, and dried leaves and herbs.
Summer Spells will take place from Friday, July 26 to Monday, September 2.
I've always loved the exhibitions that Warner Bros. has hosted throughout the year; so far I've only seen the "Christmas/Hogwarts in the Snow," so I was very excited to see its new exhibition, "Sweets and Treats." The aim of this exhibition was to show people how the food seen in the films was made and how they made it look so real.
Dotted around sound Stage J were small little trailers where crew members who had worked on the movies were set up, making food. It looked delicious, but if you tried to eat it you may lose a tooth or two. In the first trailer that I came across there were two crew members making various kinds of treats: chocolate frogs, candy skulls, and the glorious ice cream that can be seen in the storefront of Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor.
Out of the two crew members, one was a professionally trained chef; she would design glorious looking cakes and treats such as the delicious-looking cake from the Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secret's movie. They then had an entire different team of workers dedicated to reproducing these works of art, in a more durable and long lasting form (because as we all know, real food left on set starts to really stink under the hot studio lights after a while, right!?).
As it turns out, the ice cream and other treats were not made of anything edible in the slightest. Most foods were made of resin and glass particles, or they were molded from the original food with silicone. The ice cream cones were made from resin, while the ice cream itself made from poly-filler mixed with ink and piped into the cone to create these great looking treats.
The Studio Tour staff was also dressing some of the sets with food and drinks, in particular the Gryffindor common room, which was decorated with a butterbeer keg and party foods such as sausage rolls and biscuits. It's currently Quidditch season, so the common room walls were also adorned with Gryffindor team posters. One fun fact they told us was that the butterbeer used on set was actually apple juice since most of the cast members enjoyed it, and the cookies would indeed be real so that the cast could eat if they wanted.
Moving on to sound Stage K, we were greeted by a crew member in Diagon Alley outside of Florean Fortescue's; she was making ice cream towers, which looked absolutely stunning. We were allowed to pick up and touch the fake ice cream scoops, which were surprisingly heavy. Each scoop had a small ring on it, which would be attached to a long pole, allowing the scoops to be attached and arranged accordingly. In the art department, they had some nice concept arts on display, one of the Slytherin House cake and several different versions of concept art for Bill and Fleur's wedding cake in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
On the whole, this exhibition was very fun and informative, opening our eyes to a department within the crew that we didn't know very much about beforehand; sure – we have all seen the food in the films and thought it looked amazing, but it is difficult to fully appreciate the sheer amount of work and dedication that goes into creating these things just from seeing them on screen.
Special thanks as always to the extremely knowledgeable and friendly staff at the Studio Tour!
Report by MuggleNet Staff Member, Laura Louise Rafferty
Who's ready to hop aboard the Hogwarts Express when it arrives at the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter later this month? Today, MuggleNet was invited along to a preview of the new Platform 9 ¾ expansion, with a very special guest in attendance – none other than Mark Williams (Arthur Weasley) himself!
We were previously lucky to see a sneak preview of the feature, which you can read about here. That was only a month ago, and then the site was still covered in scaffolding and new paint. Today, it was quite different, and you might have been forgiven for thinking that you had wandered into King's Cross itself.
As we rounded the corner, we saw the train itself waiting at the platform, ready to bear us away to Hogwarts, steam billowing out around it. At one end, a façade depicts the bustling station of King's Cross, giving the illusion that the station continues on. The famous clock stands at 11 a.m., ready for the train to depart, full of eager Hogwarts students.
The engine itself is the original one used in the films and prior to appearing in the films, served as a real, working train. The new feature was worked on by designer Stuart Craig, construction manager Paul Hayes, and set decorator Rosie Goodwin, as well as special effects supervisor John Richardson.
Along the walls were trolleys and trunks, halfway through the wall, ready for visitors to pose with for pictures. Throughout the area, there were trolleys and trunks belonging to Hogwarts students, waiting to be loaded onto the train.
Behind the train itself is a carriage that is open to visitors. The carriage was originally used in the first film, and it is easy to believe that you have just boarded the train for Hogwarts. We were able to explore the narrow carriage, and some of the compartments were laid out as they were in some of the films – from the Prisoner of Azkaban to the epilogue in Deathly Hallows. There were several opportunities for pictures here as well. Outside the carriage was a row of open booths, as used in filming, which revealed how the green screen technology had worked, particularly for those Dementor scenes in Prisoner of Azkaban.
There is also a railway shop, which offers Hogwarts Express goodies for you to take home – as well as a trolley stacked up with sweets, as you would expect!
The structure itself is impressive, and it certainly feels like a real platform. As you can see from the pictures, it's a huge space. It's hard to believe that it has all been constructed over the last few months. As always, the amount of detail and care that has gone into creating this new section of the tour is overwhelming. Of course it was very quiet, with only a few people wandering about, which will be different when it opens, no doubt making it feel like the train is just about to leave!
We were amazed at the amount of work and preparation that had gone into the feature, and we can't wait for it to open to the public so that you can all enjoy it, too. It's definitely a very exciting addition to the tour – and something that you'll just have to go back and see!
In the official press release, Williams said,
I've really enjoyed being back at the Studio Tour, seeing the original Hogwarts Express and the superb recreation of Platform 9 ¾. People don't always realise that the school train was in fact […] a real working locomotive [that] has been transporting passengers up and down the country since 1937. We always enjoyed filming on Platform 9 ¾; it was the beginning of every adventure. The Hogwarts Express was a magical part of the Harry Potter film series.
MuggleNet also got a chance to chat to Mark, and we'll have the interview available for you to watch as soon as possible, so make sure you look out for it! In the meantime, check out the rest of our pictures in the gallery below. The feature opens to the public on March 19 and is included in normal ticket prices.
Thanks again to the Warner Bros. Studio Tour for inviting MuggleNet along today.
Since opening in Spring 2012, the WB Studio Tour has relished in new ideas and additions; decorating the sets for Christmas and Halloween, bringing along the animal stars, teaching wand choreography and revealing thousands of secrets along the way. But this week the tour has upped its game even further, revealing the first permanent feature since opening, and MuggleNet went along to the preview evening to check it out.
Upon first entering the Great Hall, returning visitors will notice a couple of small changes to this fabulous set piece. For a start, the lighting on the night we attended was appropriately atmospheric, up-lit in shades of green and purple. One of the tables was heavily laden with food for a Halloween feast, whilst on the left Moaning Myrtle's and (we think!) The Grey Lady's ghostly faded costumes added to the haunted theme.
The feast is all set for Halloween. #DarkArts pic.twitter.com/0RGKsnKJYp
— MuggleNet.com LIVE (@MuggleNetLive) October 14, 2014
Moving further into the exhibit, new surprises have been dotted around, ready for eager eyed visitors. Most pleasing was the splendid vulture topped hat and dress that Professor Snape was robed in for Lupin's Boggart lesson in Prisoner of Azkaban, whilst alongside it sits the camera used in the Defence Against Dark Arts class in the same year.
Turning the corner after the potions classroom, you come across the newest addition to the tour, the Dark Arts feature in full. First up is a selection of props from Harry's jaunt down Knockturn Alley, featuring a range items, including the Vanishing Cabinet and full skeleton, it is a treasure trove of goodies worth spending time perusing. There is also the sarcophagus that Harry hid in during a deleted scene of Chamber of Secrets. Hovering above this feature is one of the eerie Dementor puppets previously hosted in the special effects section. On the other side of this, is a condensed version of Dolores Umbridge's Ministry office, featuring her frolicking cat plates and a couple of costumes. It is a shame they had to remove the actual office set to make room for this new exhibit but also rather satisfying that they have placed Umbridge, where she belongs, in the Dark Arts section!
As for the pièce de résistance, Malfoy Manor feels like a natural addition to the tour. The pre-existing fireplace has been extended to neatly fit the table of Death Eaters from the beginning of Deathly Hallows. Rather than standing awkwardly in a line, the Death Eaters are now placed, according to hierarchy, around the table, whilst Voldemort appears to be listening to Snape relay some news. Suspended above the table, not so much by invisible rope as a highly visible cable wire, is Charity Burbage, ready for the munching by the impressively large Nagini model. Flickering away behind the table is probably the most realistic fake fire you will ever clap your eyes on! This new feature makes for one of the most interesting scenes in the exhibit. However it does come at a cost.
Many items in that area have had to be repositioned; the Magic is Might statue is still present but now along the wall where Umbridge's office was previously. And the fabulous glass case of MinaLima graphic designs has also been relocated to later in the tour. Given how freely many of the pieces were placed on a table during the event we attended, this may not be its permanent home.
The new @minalima section at @wbstudiotour. I spy a #FantasticBeasts tease… #DarkArts pic.twitter.com/xPnw6cgdfW — MuggleNet.com (@MuggleNet) October 14, 2014
However the most disappointing edit is the removal of the Black family tapestry. Whilst at the event, we overheard one staff member staying they didn't have the room to house it elsewhere; I doubt I speak just for myself when I say, I hope they rectify this soon!
Overall, however, this new feature is fantastic. It would be so easy for an exhibition of this kind to remain static for many years, and still continue bring in the same crowds – 7,000 a day in peak season! However this is what makes this attraction so brilliant, and so popular. Everyone involved is clearly passionate about creating an experience that is unique for every visitor, and with plenty of exciting Potter events on the horizon, we can only wait to see what surprise they have in store for us next.
For more information, or to book tickets, visit here.
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Report by MuggleNet Staff Member, Claire Furner
It may have been my third visit to the studios, but I can assure you that it's still just as magical as it was the first time – even more so, because the focus is less on taking pictures, but just on experiencing it. Despite the intense heat wave that the UK was experiencing, the studios were a nice, air conditioned oasis! MuggleNet were lucky enough to be invited to look around the brand new feature, Bludgers and Broomsticks. The feature, which began on July 18, and will run until September 1, to coincide with British school summer holidays, profiles the games and sports in the Harry Potter films.
On joining the line to get into the tour, we were all handed special Bludgers and Broomsticks badges to wear. As we went through the tour, there were some smaller nods towards the theme, and other more noticeable ones. For example, in the Great Hall, hanging above one of the tables was one of the brooms that Fred and George make their great escape on in Harry Potter and the Order of Phoenix. Further on, the Gryffindor Common Room was decked out for a post quidditch match celebration party, complete with butterbeer and banners.
In the green screen area, quidditch balls zoomed overhead on wires, while the green screen technology was on display, along with a selection of brooms. There were plenty of quidditch outfits on display as well. I couldn't remember if they had all been there previously or not, but they were all great to look at. The rattling crate of balls as seen in the first film was also present, and the rather alarming clunking sound that it made when operated by a member of staff could be heard by all in the sound studio! It was great to see this in action, as well as Madame Hooch's outfit, the bottle of Skele-Grow from the second film, and several of Harry's outfits too. As always, there was the chance to ride a broom in front of green screen and see how the technology worked for yourself.
Just round the corner from this however, was my favorite addition to the tour for this feature: Broomstick Making. Although you couldn't make one yourself, a workshop was set up, and the two staff members working there with the brooms had worked on the Potter films for ten years. As well as displaying brooms they had already made, they were also in the process of making new ones for the purpose of showing people how it was done. Listening to them talk about the process was fascinating and I could have stayed there all day. The staff member informed us that the handles of the brooms were all made from different woods, sourced from orchards, and it was a challenge to find the right shape. For brooms such as the Nimbus 2000 a very specific shape of stick had to be found. The wood for "school brooms" didn't matter so much, and there was one on display that was made out a piece of apple tree! The tail sticks however they had to source from Italy. The amount of careful work that went into making just the broomsticks alone reiterated to me how much craftsmanship and dedication went into making all the props on the Potter films.
The staff member also said that before Potter anything that was made for a film was discarded straight after filming had finished. Potter had changed that, as people had realized that these objects had a life.
There was also the opportunity here to pick up the very Nimbus 2000 that Daniel Radcliffe carried in the third film. This was called a hero prop (too heavy for a stunt person to use, and only shown in close up scenes). It was surprisingly heavy to hold! This was due to the twigs and metal that make up the bottom of the broom.
Before moving outside, there was one more addition for this feature – a board game, called Snitch Snatcher! MinaLima created the game for Prisoner of Azkaban, but unfortunately it got cut. It was great to see though.
Outside, there was one of the chess pieces set up on a chess board to have a picture taken with, as well as find out just how the chess pieces worked. Back inside again, on Diagon Alley, three quidditch players, dressed in Gryffindor robes, stood outside Quality Quidditch Supplies, posing for pictures complete with a snitch and bludger.
Following this, was a section devoted to concept art. Several pieces of concept art relating to quidditch where displayed here, and the knowledgeable staff member explained how the different props were visualized by different artists. The staff member also showed us a stunt version of the bludger bat – which is made of rubber so that no one gets hurt!
As always, the staff and everyone at the Studio Tour were very friendly and helpful, and it was a great day out. If you're heading there this summer for the Bludgers and Broomsticks feature, then enjoy yourself! If you haven't got your tickets yet, then make sure you get them soon before you miss out. Thanks again to the Warner Bros. Studio Tour for having us.[new_royalslider id="228″]
Report and images by MuggleNet Staff Member, Sophie Reid
This Wand Week was a special one indeed. The focus seemed to be on how wands were designed. The Studio Tour ran a contest for fans to design their own wand. The winning wand would then be made a reality! The winning wand was a beautiful creation with leaves on the handle and a colorful phoenix feather wrapped around the entire wand.
As I watched one of the wand designers carve this creation, I started chatting with another one of the staff about how the design for each character's wand was decided on. He told me that the film directors (starting with Alfonso Cuarón, who decided that each character should have a personalized wand) would meet with the design team and determine what kind of character they were dealing with; for example, the twins are fun-loving, Voldemort's has a strong connection to death, etc. The design team would then come up with a drawing they thought fit that character.
This design was submitted to J.K. Rowling, who would approve of the wand or send it back for redesigning. This staff member (who was very helpful and insightful) also noted that the trio (Harry, Ron, and Hermione) were all given very organic looking wands to symbolize their purity. Harry's looks as if it has just been carved from a tree; in fact, it looks like it is growing from the handle. Ron's is similar, but is cut rougher, with more distinct divots. Hermione's is the most put together, daintily carved with vines. Each of these wands obviously reflects its owner's character!
As I watched the crafting of the winning wand, it was clear just how much time and effort went into creating the beautiful detail of every wand for the films. Once again, it shows the detail and care that went into the making of these films!
Always seeking to best themselves, the WB Studio's latest feature is real treat to behold. Established in time for the British Easter holidays, Feathers and Flight takes you behind the scenes on the series' delights and once again, MuggleNet were given the opportunity to take a look around.
The Great Hall, the tour's grand beginning, has been decked out with a cracking Hogwarts breakfast, laden with toast, jugs of orange juice and boxes of Cheeri Owls and ready for the morning owl post. Across the hall, hovering above a Ravenclaw costume, is one of the brooms ridden by the twins during their spectacular escape from the Umbridge regime in the Order of the Phoenix.
Further into Soundstage J is a small feature on Rita Skeeter and her Quick Quotes Quill. Perched on a notepad, the details of this animatronic device are explained in an fabulously dated video – judging by Matt Lewis and Tom Felton's chosen hairstyles! However it does detail the three week building process for the device and demonstrate how it was controlled, which is quite similar to that behind a remote control car.
The rest of the sound stage is largely unchanged. However such is the magic of this exhibition, that you are never quite sure if certain items are genuinely new or you simply missed them last time. I, for one, am convinced that I have never seen the Inquisitorial Squad badge on Draco Malfoy's costume before or the intriguing bird skull necklace on the Bellatrix mannequin.
Outside in the backlot, Feathers and Flight truly comes alive as you are introduced to some of the film's animal actors. Once again, a handsome white owl is perched atop the Privet Drive sign, ready for selfies with Hedwig! Sandwiched in-between Privet Drive and the Potter's Godric's Hollow cottage, are a series of flying demos. Taking place every half an hour, they are worth any time spent waiting.
First up is a large eagle owl, one of the two used in the films. Sixteen years of age and 2kg in weight, the owl did its best to demonstrate its movie training. The trick, taking a letter in its beak and delivering to the trainer a few feet away, can take up to six months to teach and a week to forget. This dimwittedness is in stark comparison to the next featured performer, a raven. These lethal-looking birds can learn the same tricks as an owl in just a week. The raven present appeared to be closer in behavior to a dog, than any bird we had previously witnessed. It fetched sticks when thrown for it and even jumped a few inches in the air when commanded. To finish up the session up, a charming little tawny owl was brought out, dozing gracefully on it's trainer's arm.
Moving into sound stage K and Potter featherologist, Val Jones, and her team are on hand to demonstrate the feather making process. Using real goose feathers, each feather is dyed (yellow for Fawkes, grey for Buckbeak etc.) before the details are individually painted by handed. The feathers are then trimmed to the appropriate size and sewn onto a stretching fabric, giving the illusion of a living animal once placed on the animatronic substitute. Given this detailed approach, the creation of these models for the Harry Potter films was a lengthly process: the owls took around a month, three Buckbeaks took 8 weeks, whilst three Fawkes tool the best part of five months. Still, a spectacular site when complete. But all too soon it is time to leave, although not before stocking up on Peppermint Toads from the shop!
Feathers and Flight is a brilliant addition to the existing exhibition and will be appreciated by new and previous attendees alike. It is also a thrilling reminder of just how much care and attention went into making these films, instilling yet more enthusiasm for what is in store with the Fantastic Beasts films!
Feathers and Flight continues until April 27th, 2014 whilst Wand Week will run from May 23rd to June 2nd.[new_royalslider id="217″]
Report by MuggleNet Staff Member, Claire Furner
Every visit to the Warner Bros. Studio Tour is magical. From the moment you get on the bus at Watford Junction and hear the iconic theme tune play over the speakers, you are instantly transported to that wonderful world we have all spent many hours/days/years within. However as we pulled up to the studios, amongst a crowd of recognizable faces of YouTube fame, and entered the main foyer area, we knew this night would be something special.
An enormous, tinsel bedecked Christmas tree welcomed us on our arrival, setting the mood for their special festive feature, Hogwarts in the Snow. As we sipped mulled wine and nibbled on warm mince pies, we took a moment to take in these extra decorations as well as appreciate the latest Gift Shop window displays, featuring mannequins smothered in cosy hats and scarfs in range of house colors and a light sprinkling of "snow" on the ground.
Embarking on the tour, the activities and layout are as usual but a festive touch has been added that will sway even the grumpiest of Scrooges. The Great Hall has been adorned with the decorations and props used in the Philosopher's Stone film with eight Christmas trees lining the walls and heaps of food filling the length of both tables. A vast wreath encircles the Hogwarts crest engraved on the chimney breast and thick garlands of holly and mistletoe decorate all other available surfaces. A feature I personally adored was that of the clever light trick on the back windows, giving the illusion of snow falling behind the glass.
After being assured this wouldn't be the last of the snow, we headed into the main room were a number of the sets have been suitably decorated including the Gryffindor Common Room, with its rather elaborate paper chain chandelier feature, and a more modest explosion of tinsel in the Boy's Dormitory. For new visitors to the tour, many of the other permanent features have Yuletide significance from decorations from the Yule Ball to the dress worn by Luna Lovegood at Slughorn's Christmas party, not to mention the many Weasley jumpers on display. One nifty addition to this area is an explanation of the snow making process; ranging from the use of shredded plastic to mixing dendritic salt with white glitter, the sorcery of film snow knows no bounds!
This still wasn't the last of the snow however, as we were surprised with a flurry of the cold white stuff upon entering The Backlot. Being this reviewer's first venture to the tour after dark, it was quite something to see the Knight Bus glowing warmly, lit by wall lamps, and the Hogwarts Bridge up-lit in an eerie green, whilst snow fell around you. If you can make the tour after sunset, and bear the cold, it comes highly recommended!
As we hurried back into the warmth and finished off the tour, we were once again presented with the piece de resistance; the unforgettable Hogwarts Castle model. Dusted in 'snow', the breath-taking feature is even more spellbinding. Adding to magic are a few little extras scattered around including a tiny snowman and some minuscule footprints.
All too soon it was time to leave, although not without a final scoot around the gift shop. For anyone yet to visit the Studio Tour, Hogwarts at Christmas couldn't provide a better opportunity to see this wonderful collation of props and costumes in all its glory. As for regular attendees, surely SNOW is a good enough reason to return?
As always, we'd like to thank everyone at the WB Studio Tour for inviting us to the Hogwarts in the Snow preview and for such a splendid evening.
Report by MuggleNet Staff Member, Claire Furner
Event attended by MuggleNet Staff Member, Claire Furner, and Rosie Morris
Right now at the WB Studio Tour at Leavesden it's all about Ghostly Goings On, just in time for Halloween. If you've got a tour booked in the next few weeks you're in for some ghoulish treats, and today MuggleNet was invited for a sneak peek, so we can tell you all about it!
The ghosts are out in force in the Great Hall, where you'll find the spectacular costumes of the Fat Friar and Nearly Headless Nick alongside Helena Ravenclaw and Moaning Myrtle. Even the background ghosts are represented, showing how much care and attention were given to characters that weren't even in the books and were barely seen on screen!
Further in you'll find a few new additions, including the beautiful harp used to lull Fluffy to sleep in Philosopher's Stone. Press the buttons, and watch the strings play, no musical ability necessary. Beyond that is a new interactions work station where the fabulous staff will show you how to make troll bogies, three-headed dog saliva and shimmering unicorn blood. One of these movie secrets can even be replicated at home if you fancy decorating for Halloween, but beware, they're a bit messy!
In the outside lot, make sure you talk to the staff who are there to 'shed some light' on the workings of Dumbledore's Deluminator. And if that's not enough, keep an eye out for the residents of Knockturn Alley in the shadows of the magical Diagon Alley shops. A highlight of our tour was the Death Eater pretending to be a mannequin, waiting for visitors to pose for photos before moving closer and scaring them.
It's always worth exploring the new sights and talking to the interactors who told us of some real life spooky events on the tour. Potions books are opening without being touched, and ghostly footsteps were found in Dumbledore's office. What more could you ask for from this magical experience in the approach to All Hallows' Eve?
As usual, thank you to the amazing Studio Tour staff for a brilliant day!
You can check out one of the ghostly costumes below.
Report by MuggleNet Staff Member, Rosie Morris
Hosted in time for the Half Term holidays, the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter recently ran a week-long event, offering visitors the chance to meet the animal stars of the Potter films.
For those on Twitter this Sunday, you will have noticed that MuggleNet were, once again, on hand to report on the events of Animal Week. From watching kitten training to being snuck into the Gryffindor Common Room to meet Mrs Norris, the whole event was a blast and as magical as our first trip there. The animals on show covered almost all the non-magical bases from Scabbers the rat and Trevor the toad in the aforementioned Common Room, to an incredibly lazy Fang dog and a keen to please Crookshanks showing off some routines outside Hagrid's Hut.
Yet more secrets were revealed as various staff were able to talk you through how they turned Sirius' owl black using specialist dye from China, the process of training owls to pick up parcels and revealing the metal contraption a tiny eleven year old Daniel Radcliffe had to hide under his robes to help support the weight of Hedwig.
Over by Umbridge's office, trainers were walking the Twitter Litter through shooting the images for Professor Umbridge's infamous cat plates.
Easily the best photo opportunity of the day was with a snowy owl sat atop the Privet Drive sign and, after a brief walk through the making of the magical animals, even more owls were perched outside Eeylops Owl Emporium in Diagon Alley.
Yet again the Studio Tour proved that the magic of these films wasn't just the original story but the exceptional team of people working behind the scenes in every field imaginable. Each special event held by the Studio enables a particular team to show off and reveal their expertise, which all the animal trainers present on Sunday, led by Julie Tottman, certainly did. We can only look forward to what they have in store for the next event!
Report by MuggleNet Staff Member, Claire Furner
It has been exactly a year since Warner Bros. welcomed its legions of fans over the threshold of the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter.
Since the star-studded Grand Opening last March, the tour has won over the hearts of fans and critics alike with its all-access insight into bringing this iconic story to life. Its only only fitting then that they should celebrate their birthday in style and MuggleNet was on hand to witness the many treats on offer.
The first treat of the day, were the 1st Year Anniversary badges being handed out to every visitor. Then one lucky person from each group was being offered limited edition prizes at the start of the tour whilst everyone else was promised more prizes and surprises as they made their way through the tour, speaking with the incredibly knowledgable interactors. However the taster that peaked our interest was the offer to visit Hagrid's hut (invisibility cloak optional). As we arrived, we were treated with the very special appearance of the true Potter trio: Hedwig, Pigwidgeon, and Crookshanks.
We were also fortunate enough to have a quick with with the brilliant Julie Tottman, animal trainer on all eight of the Potter films, which is featured below.
After these exciting tidbits, we were once again allowed to enjoy the wonders of the tour at our leisure before diving head first into the gift shop. For any Quidditch players out there, it is worth noting that the tour has released a whole range of sports merchandise including Quaffles and Bludgers as well as House branded kits.
So One Year On and the WB Studio Tour is as fantastic as ever. After celebrating their millionth ticket sale at the end of the last year, you would be forgiven for thinking things may have slowed down. On the contrary however, neither of us in attendance today have seen the place quite so busy despite having five previous visits between us; further proof that the magic of Potter will live on for many years to come.
Report by MuggleNet Staff Member, Claire Furner
The WB Studio Tour is always a fantastic day out but during school holidays they pull out all the stops to make a child's dreams come true. For fans, this means extra behind-the-scenes information and fun-filled interactivity that brings the magic alive alongside the regular superb tour. This week it's Wand Week, with a variety of wand themed activities around the site. In the entrance you'll find a host to the tour explaining that there are special adventures you will see this week only, helping to build the excitement before you go near the tour itself.
When I visited shortly before Christmas last year, the holiday decorations made the expansive buildings look festive and homely. The tour stayed closed for two extra days over the holiday, taking these decorations down and used the time to fix up the regular tour to cast 'Scourgify' and 'Reparo' on a few items and make it look perfect for the movie-loving visitors. This included taking a layer of dust from Hogwarts castle so the fantastic set looks like a beautiful and colorful castle in spring rather than hidden under a slight snow – much like the rest of the country. It is now looking lovely so well done to everyone who worked as hard as house-elves over the break.
Additional areas in this week's tour include an extended work station beside the usual 'wand wheel' where a wand crafter from the films is on hand to explain how each of the three types of wand are made. You can watch as a wooden wand is carved, see the moulds used to create resin versions and see the rubber wands that are less likely to cause damage if someone attacks you with Expelliarmus! Each character had their own wand design, which were influenced by the actors themselves, so look out for your favorite and see if you can find links to their characters.
Further along you'll find a brilliant interactive station where Paul Harris, the wand choreographer from the films, will teach you the five principal movements in any wizards duel. You can then test what you've learnt if you come across one of the super-scary Death Eaters that are stalking the grounds. If you don't take part yourself, do take the time to watch as there's nothing better than the smiles on children's faces as they learn the stances and flicks for their own magical battles.
In Diagon Alley you can see Ollivander's robes on display in the doorway of his shop and find out how the wands you've seen be created were used alongside the special effects within the films. From light-up tips to full bulbs that can light Harry, the Map and an entire corridor in Prisoner of Azkaban, the SFX team has set up magical effects that mean a lucky few can cast their own spell with a swish and a flick right there by Gringotts Bank.
If you get a chance to see the tour this week, I hope you have a magical experience as I did, and if not the standard tour is a must see for any Potter fan and should not be missed!
A very big thank you to Rowena, Emily and the rest of the fantastic Studio Tour team!
Report by MuggleNet Staff Member, Rosie Morris
Arriving at the WB Studio Tour this Christmas is like walking into a winter wonderland, with beautiful giant Christmas trees welcoming you as soon as you step through the door. The amazing tree in the entrance hall is so huge it can only have been put there by Hagrid (Though it was actually installed and decorated by dedicated staff in the small hours of the morning.)
We were lucky enough to be invited to the tour to see the new winter decorations on the day they were celebrating the one millionth guest to the site. The family of four, appropriately enough from the town of Dudley, were greeted by Mark Williams who had just been around the tour to celebrate his daughter's birthday. He presented them with a Nimbus 2000 and a goody bag of merchandise, making their family day out that little bit more unexpectedly magical!
The tour itself has been tweaked and changed since we last visited close to the opening in April. The Christmas decorations will be there all season, so if you have a chance to visit before February do go and see all of the hard work that the staff have put in! There are other small changes that have been made on the basis of visitor comments, the queues for a Broomstick photo are now much shorter for instance and the bridge to Hogwarts is now open so that visitors can walk across. Even without these changes there is always so much detail that taking the tour for the second time was no less interesting and revealing than the first!
The main attraction today however were the glorious christmas fittings that have been added to four key sets on the tour. The set designers from the movies, Stephanie McMillan and Rosie Goodwin were involved in designing and overseeing the decorations, as well as John Richardson, the head of Special Effects.
On entering the Great Hall you are now greeted with a magnificent Christmas feast, with eight giant trees adorned with golden stars, moons and birds, and the occasional witch that you can see in the movies flying around the top of the tree. The fireplace holds a large wreath, surrounding the Hogwarts crest, and the tables are decked with the most delicious array of Christmas goods! In the movie some of these were real dishes, but for obvious reasons these have been replaced with resin platters which still look good enough to eat. Take a look at both tables for the full array of marvels, with the left covered in roasts and the right with desserts!
The gigantic christmas puddings were used in the films and contained gas canisters that allowed the puddings to flame non-stop throughout filming. My personal favorites were the Christmas cakes with adorable snowmen in school uniform sat on the top. Each section still holds the uniforms of a house, and the tables have been laid with house crackers to add to the appeal.
As you go through the tour you find the Gryffindor House has also been decorated for the season. We spoke to the wonderful staff who explained that the decorations in the house are designed to make it look like the students have decorated it themselves, with handmade paper garlands and tinsel everywhere! The tree beside the fireplace is covered in Red and Gold skulls, which seem like a strange choice for a holiday decoration but I really want some for my tree! The handmade cards scattered around the rooms are so detailed they even include messages such as 'To Harry, Merry Christmas from Hagrid and Fang' though you can't see the insides from the barriers. A sneaky Gryffindor student has even put a bunch of mistletoe atop the archway to the dormitories, so be aware of where you're saying goodnight as you head up to bed! These decorations are a mixture of those seen in the first and the fourth films and definitely look like a warm and welcoming christmas in he Gryffindor tower.
Further along and we find that the Burrow has also had a holiday makeover. The curtains are closed to block out the winter weather and the table is set to a point between the main course and dessert, perhaps Harry and the Weasley's have stepped out for a game of Quidditch to work off the impressive meal. Ginny, an appropriately named staff member, told us more about the set, explaining that the half eaten turkey on the side table was originally an actual turkey that the cast were told to eat before a resin cast was taken of the remnants leaving an incredibly lifelike and hunger-inducing dish on show. The crackers have been pulled and the nuts cracked, but the cake has yet to be eaten so it feels like you could sit down at the table yourself and join in the Weasleys' celebrations.
When walking around the building, make sure you do stop to ask the staff about the sets! The audio tour with Tom Felton is brilliant but asking the interactors adds a new dimension of detail to the already packed experience. There are so many anecdotes and tidbits they can supply about individual places and props, it helps to bring the sets to life with real personality.
The final addition to the tour is in Diagon Alley, where the SFX department has set out Harry's footprints in the snow from Hogsmede in Prisoner of Azkaban. Hidden under the cloak, all we see are Harry's footprints appearing as he walks and these are actually animatronic! Each footprint descends as you watch, one by one as if Harry were walking past!
Overall, the Christmas tour is even more magical than usual and well worth a visit! Thank you to WB and the staff members who made our day so brilliant and thank you to the dedicated staff members who stayed up through the night after closing to make the special holiday makeover possible! It's brilliant to see Harry's world at Christmas and I'm definitely ready for the holidays now!
Report by MuggleNet Staff Members, Claire Furner, and Rosie Morris
So on Sunday I went back to Leavesden Studios (Now Warner Bros Studios Leavesden I guess…) with some of the other Potterkids (yes, that's what we call each other) to see the WB Studio Tour. IT'S ACTUALLY REALLY GOOD. That probably sounds like a shameless plug or something, but it genuinely is!
Seeing the studios again after nearly two years was very, very odd; the place has completely changed, which for film crews and tour goers is great, it was definitely a little strange for me personally though, even though I only shot there for a week.
SO THE TOUR ITSELF. I don't want to give away too many spoilers… hmm. Well, for starters, there's a really cool looking café at the start. That's not too spoiler-y right? I ended up waiting at said café for a while; Ryan (Hugo) Ellie (Lily, Harry's mama, not daughter) and Ben (Young Sev!) had booked an earlier slot, and Helena (Rose) had gotten stuck somewhere in central London, thus I waited with a Sprite, people watching, as you do! So I now hold fond memories of that café, I recommend it etc etc.
We started the first part of the tour by opening the huge doors into the Great Hall, and then the hangar after that had a huge collection of various sets from the series, which are just amazing to see in person, the amount of detail, and obvious amount of effort that the set designers put into them, is just incredible. So props to them for that (did you see what I did there?!). There's parts of the Ministry of Magic set too, that especially took me back to when I did Potter; we all did our first rehearsal on that set, with the trio and David Yates, and all the crew. I remember being blown away by the size of it, not to mention the fact I was even there. I guess that was a reminder of how lucky I was to be part of it!
There's a part that involves brooms and green screens… I say no more.
And then, the tour continues onward, but OUTSIDE. Yes, you heard me. OUTSIDE. And what could possibly make this outside-ness better? Butterbeer! And Hagrid's Bike! And the Knight Bus! Helena and I decided to hijack Hagrid's Bike, I got a little concerned I wasn't gonna get out of the sidecar after I got in, but I just about squeezed out.
So then, assuming you've finished your butterbeer (taking drink indoors is a nono), we proceed onwards again to, if I recall correctly, GOBLINS. And SPIDERS. My mum got especially scared by the spiders. YAY. I believe I saw Warwick Davis' face in a mould somewhere too.
It was pretty crazy seeing all the different sections, and thinking of the sheer amount of people that worked on the films. I think the number that worked on DH was around 2000.
I'm trying not to make this too much of a walkthrough, I have a feeling I'm failing. Oh well. This pic speaks for itself! Yes, it was huge.
Then the wand boxes. To sum it up, pretty much everyone that played a part in the making of the films, no matter what they did to contribute, got a wand box, which are all in this section. I think this is a really cool touch, so often crew members get a place on the credits (or not even that) and that's it, cheers, you're done, bye! But here, the wand boxes give them the extra recognition that they definitely deserve. And let's be honest, having a wand named after you is more than cool.
Seeing my own box was great too! Thankyouthankyouthankyou to Hannah who spotted Helena and I and showed them to us. And thanks for putting up with my requests for Jenny Harling and Jonny Greenwood, her knowledge of where they all are is pretty impressive… as is the enthusiasm of all the people that work there.
And then, that was it. Worth it? Oh yus. The interactivity is so good, and it was a nice little nostalgic Potter top up for me (I need one every now and again, don't we all?). I think (and hope) I can speak for the other kiddies in saying that we all loved it; we met up afterwards for a meal and were raving about it.
Oh, I couldn't resist doing this either.
I think that my studio tour was absolutely amazing; it was a totally awesome adventure. My favorite part was either seeing the mini version of the Hogwarts Castle, riding on the broom sticks or standing in the Great Hall again, I can't really decide which because they were all so fantastic! Standing in the Great Hall made me feel proud because I remembered being under the Sorting Hat, riding the broomstick was just so cool because I had never really done it before, and as for the miniature castle… well you have to see it to believe it, I think it should be the 8th Wonder of the world. Oh and I also loved finding the Wand Box with my name on in the Wand room, I can't believe it really…
Everything was mind-blowing, from art sketches to mechanical beasts like Aragog. It was mesmerising to see ALL of the sets and props they used from the first film all the way to the last. All of the crew put so much effort into the making; they had to make sure that every minor detail was correct like every strand of hair on the Goblins to every one of Buckbeak's feathers. It is totally incredible to think that all of this originated from the imagination of J.K. Rowling… Wow completely mind blowing!!!
I recommend a visit to everyone, I think they should go and experience this wicked adventure.
MuggleNet was on the on the Red Carpet for the amazing grand opening of the Warner Bros. Studio Tour.
In attendance at the event:
Rupert Grint – Ronald Weasley
Tom Felton – Draco Malfoy
Bonnie Wright – Ginny Weasley
Evanna Lynch – Luna Lovegood
Warwick Davis – Professor Flitwick/Griphook
David Thewlis – Remus Lupin
Helen McCrory – Narcissa Malfoy
George Harris – Kingsley Shacklebolt
Nick Moran – Scabior
Natalia Tena – Nymphadora Tonks
David Bradley – Argus Filch
David Heyman – Producer
David Baron – Producer
David Yates – Director (OOTP, HBP, DH pt 1, DH pt 2)
Alfonso Cuarón – Director (POA)
Mike Newell – Director (GOF)
MuggleNet Red Carpet Interviews:
A video interview collaboration with Hypable.com
On Friday March 23rd, MuggleNet was invited to attend a special Press Event at the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter in Watsford, England. In this article, I will provide the reader with everything they need to know from getting to the Studio Tour to what you will want to look for while exploring.
Getting to the WB Studio Tour is extremely easy. As Warner Bros. believes there will be up to 6,000 guests per day attending the event, the easiest way to guide you is by starting at Heathrow Airport to the west of London. As the main mode of transportation for tourists around London is via the Underground Tube system, we begin the journey from the Terminals.
First, get on the Piccadilly Line and take the tube from the airport to Green Park station. Get off and follow the signs to the Victoria Line Northbound and take it to London Euston Station. Get off the Underground and follow the signs to the Overground in order to take the train from London Euston to Watford Junction. When you arrive at Watford Junction, head to the Bus Terminals at the station and get on the WB Studio Tour Bus. You will easily know which bus is yours as it's black with the WB Studio Tour images all over the bus. There will be three buses in total operating throughout the day and the trip to the studios is around 10 minutes. The cost of the bus is just 2 GBP and under 5's are free.
You could also take a taxi to the Studio Tour from Watford Junction for approximately 10 GBP but I would recommend the bus to enjoy those first moments with other attendees.
The WB Studio Tour takes place in two completely new modern buildings on the property, so you will not be seeing the actual location where the films were created. However, approaching the property, knowing that these brilliant films were all made within a few hundred feet of where you are, presents a magic all to its own. Plain and simple, the initial sight of the Studios is mesmerizing, and you simply cannot wait to begin snapping pictures as you pull in.
Once you are off the bus and finished staring at the exterior in awe, you enter an equally impressive entrance hall where you will be picking up your ordered tickets. The entrance hall has gigantic individual images of most of our favorite characters, twenty-three in all.
A bag and coat check is available as well as eating and restroom facilities in this section as you wait for your individual tour time to commence.
The tour starts and your group is ushered into a large room with 8 screens that have displays of movie posters from a variety of different countries.
A tour guide introduces himself or herself and a small movie is played featuring the background of how Harry Potter was discovered by Heyday films leader and film producer, David Heyman. From this room, the excitement swells as you are ushered into a movie theater for a short film featuring Dan, Rupert, and Emma about the sets they have worked on for the past 10 years and are sure you will be impressed with the craftsmanship in all of the little details along the way.
When the short film is complete, the screen is lifted and there it is, the entry doors to the Great Hall, just as if you were ready to be sorted like a first year. The tour guide gives you plenty of time to explain the tour overall, and touches on some of the key features that you may have missed watching the movies. For instance, on top of the Hogwarts fireplace is the Hogwarts crest, but did you know that the crest is also located within the fireplace as well?
What about all of the individual flambeaux's surrounding the Great Hall sculpted into one of the four Hogwarts mascots? Did you know that each of the Hogwarts Cup Point Counters has Ancient Runes written on the metal counter? You can find so many little treasures inside just this first room, that you will be primed and ready to continue with the full tour. But be sure to take your time throughout each of the sets, you are given plenty of time to explore all you want; however, you cannot move backwards through the tour.
Also, and this is very important, talk to the staff that is stationed throughout the tour. They are all huge Harry Potter fans and very knowledgeable on all of the displays in their particular area. You may also get quite a surprise when you talk to them, as a few of the staff members have appeared in the films as extras. One of them, Katie Rosedale, appeared in four of the films as a Slytherin extra, and she was extremely proud to be part of the Harry Potter family, not only from the films, but also as she guides the tourists around the Dumbledore's Office set.
The first studio contains most of the iconic sets from the films in their full glory and the number of pictures you wind up taking quickly escalate to several hundred. Be sure to bring plenty of camera batteries and disc space for all of the pictures you take. Just as you finish examining Dolores Umbridge's Office, you feel like the tour may well be over, but no, it's not even close to being finished.
As you leave that first studio, you spot the Knight Bus sitting outside in all of its purple majesty as well as quite a few other large set pieces: Number 4 Privet Drive, The Potter House, the bridge to Hogwarts, the Ford Anglia and a few more. While enjoying these outdoor sets, you have the chance to try the butterbeer. They use the exact same formula as found in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida, so you will find the butterbeer just as incredibly sweet as ever.
When you are ready, you enter the second building and final portion of the Studio Tour. This portion was just as exciting as it contains the behind-the-scenes work including the entire creature and art department inside information. The concept drawings, the animatronics from all of the creatures, the architectural drawings and the miniature models from all of the sets give the tourist a full sense of how the creators of the films worked so diligently and painstakingly throughout the past decade to create this magical world.
This detailed look into the world of Harry Potter is never more apparent then when you enter one of the final rooms of the tour: The full size model of Hogwarts. Words cannot express the magnificence and awe that presents the tourist upon entering and walking all around the iconic model. Such detailed beauty in each and every square inch. Each individual shingle was placed on the tower roofs, fiber optic lights in each of the windows and along the walkway to the Boat House. The bridge that Neville destroyed in Deathly Hallows is interesting and you can picture Neville standing on the edge yelling, "Yeah, you and what army?"
On your way out of the Hogwarts model room and prior to entering your final leg in the WB Studio Tour gift shop, you enter a wand display room. You may be thinking that WB is just trying to convince you to purchase a wand here, but that is not what this room is about. It is a tribute room. Every single one of the over 4,000 people that helped to create this film, from the cast, to the crew, drivers, caterers, prop makers, etc., have their name on one of the wand boxes. You may be inclined to ask to see the wand box of J.K. Rowling, Dan Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint, and the staff member, Stephen, will be more than happy to show you where they are. But Stephen will also tell you stories of the people that you may or may not have known. Personally, I found this to be extremely enlightening, as each of these people played a significant role in the creation of our favorite film series, and I could have spent another four hours in this room alone. But by this time, exhaustion was setting in, and it was time to end the tour (after buying a few souvenirs from the gift shop of course). Note, however, that the tour doesn't stop upon entering the gift shop but after, as several authentic props are also proudly displayed there too, and the cashiers will be only too happy to share their enthusiasm at the idea of working in front of the wall to the actual Gringotts Bank.
Bottom line: this experience was truly magical, and if there is some way for you to make it to the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter, I would certainly encourage you to go. A word of advice to the ladies from my companion Josée: leave your heels at home, and opt for sneakers instead! Feel free, however, to wear your best costumes. The staff will be more than happy to compliment you on your outfit.
Around this time 10 years ago, I was "forced" to discover the Harry Potter books because I was teaching twin girls reading comprehension and that's the series they were both reading. Over the last decade, I've discovered the online fandom, made countless Harry Potter related crafts (costumes, photo albums, a scrapbook, cards, Ravenclaw swimwear, etc.) and created a Yahoo! Group on the subject, been to four conventions (Convention Alley in 2004 and 2008, Lumos in 2006, and LeakyCon last summer), visited the Harry Potter: The Exhibition in Toronto and the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Orlando, Florida, bought Harry Potter books in languages I neither read nor speak, to name only a few. Yet nothing, I repeat nothing compares to the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London, which I was lucky enough to visit before it's official opening on Friday, March 23. I'm sure I must have overdosed on Felix Felicis for this to happen to me.
Getting to the Studio Tour was very smooth and easy. We took the underground, then the train from platform 9 at Euston Station (I think they dropped the 3/4 so Muggles wouldn't get suspicious) to Watford Junction. We then experienced our first wow moment when we saw the shuttle bus, painted with images of the Studio Tour, which you can see, poster-sized, throughout London these days. It was clear that it wasn't Ernie behind the wheel, as the drive was smooth and very enjoyable.
The two buildings housing the WB Studio tour, named "Studio J" and "Studio K", are positively huge when viewed from the outside. Seeing them, you will hardly be able to contain yourself and will want to rush inside to begin your journey. Once inside, you will get a bit of time to admire the entrance hall and its immense posters, as well as the very first props you will get to see (Harry and Ron's trunks, the flying Ford Anglia and a few others). After a brief wait in the queue, you will be ushered in a room with screens. To be honest, I can't talk much about what they showed us, because I hardly remember any of it. I was too excited for what was to come. Once we left that room, we were taken to a movie theatre with very comfortable seats, and watched a short film with the trio, where they mentioned that 17,000 wand boxes were created and hand labeled. My mind was blown for the first of what would be countless times that day.
When the movie finishes, you expect to be taken through the small door on your right to whatever is awaiting you next. Wrong! The screen actually lifts and *gasps* here they are, the Great Hall doors. Now if you think that you know what these will look like because you've watched the movies a million times, think again because you. are. wrong… and you're about to be proved wrong a million times over. The sheer amount of details in these doors and in the Great Hall in general is incredible. In fact, I would almost compare it to the level of details I had witnessed the day before in Muggle London, on buildings like the House of Parliament and Westminster Abbey. The guide told us that when they filled the hourglasses counting the house points, it caused a shortage of beads in the UK, and I have no trouble believing it. The cylinders are a few inches in diameters and they are filled with seed beads; for those not familiar with them, they are about the size of a grain of rice… cut into four pieces.
Now, I really don't want to spoil too much here, but here's what you can expect to see in the first studio. First, there are dozens of the costumes (accessories like shoes, gloves and jewelry included) worn by the actors. Once again, you will be blown away by the amount of details you see on them, from delicate embroideries, to detailed beadwork, carefully frayed pants and rich fabrics. I think the detail that impressed me the most was found on one of Umbridge's dresses: two little pink bows at the bottom of the dress are adorned with golden buttons.
So far, so good. Standing a few feet away, you think they look cute. Now take your camera and zoom in on them as much as you can. Doing that, you'll notice a sort of shape, and you'll think that they're cats. Then once you're back at home and zoom the picture using your computer, you'll notice that they're not cats, but tiny little golden skulls with diamonds for the eyes. Even costumes that are meant to look hideous on screen, like Ron's Yule Ball outfit, look so beautiful when you see them in person that you can't help but take a few moments admiring them in awe. A fair warning to all costumers and cosplayers out there: once you've seen the exhibit, the odds are you'll want to redo your whole costume so it looks exactly like the one you've just seen. I know that's how I felt after seeing the Beauxbâtons robes!
Then, there are the props, which I think I can accurately say there are thousands of! Golden snitches, letters from no one, howlers, U-No-Poo and other WWW merchandise, the time-turner, Mad-Eye Moody and Lupin's trunk, wands, turkeys (yes, you read that right!), books, Cherri Owls boxes, broomsticks, and much, much more.
Also, there are the sets, which, once again, will leave you speechless. Once again, the amount of details in them is unbelievable. Surely you remember that in Snape's dungeon/office, there is a sort of archway with words on it. We see it briefly and vaguely in the movies, since the lighting there is meant to be rather dark. Well that archway is actually made with copper leaf, which was hand applied. As for the potion ingredients jars, there are quite a few hundreds of them, and they each have a unique name, were hand labelled and their content is all different. It's made from things like toy frogs that were ripped apart, then severely modified by the props crew to make them look unique. That much I was able to learn by speaking with the gentleman stationed in that area, whose name I unfortunately forgot. Be sure to use your legilimency powers on the staff. They are a wealth of information and you won't even need veritaserum to get them talking.
By that point, I had taken 600 pictures, and I actually stopped the paparazzi work, not because I wanted to, but because my camera battery died as I was snapping pictures of Umbridge's office. If only I could have blamed the short plump witch for killing a Muggle contraption like a digital camera, but nope! I was the one to blame on this one: I had forgotten to charge my battery the day before after visiting Muggle London. Please learn from my mistakes, and a) charge your camera, b) bring your battery charger and/or extra batteries, and c) if you're not from Europe, bring a plug adaptor. I was lucky that Keith had his own camera and a fully charged battery. I could still have kicked myself for my mistake, but at least I didn't go home picture less from part 2 and 3 of the Tour.
Part 2 of the tour takes place outside and you get to buy butterbeer if you wish to. Now I had butterbeer, both frozen and regular, at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Orlando, and I took a sip from Keith's in London, and my opinion is that they taste different, though the staff assured us the same recipe is being used for both location. Perhaps it's because I only had a sip in London whereas I had full glasses in Orlando, but I thought the Orlando butterbeer tasted sweeter. Bottom line, visit both locations, taste it and see for yourself! When you get outside, you'll see picnic tables where you can sit down and relax. We didn't, and in hindsight, we should have. You still have quite a bit to visit from there, and you won't want to rush the end of your journey because you're uncomfortable, so take a seat, sip your butterbeer, admire the pictures you've already taken, and relax a little.
Once you've done that, take a moment to look at the large set pieces sitting outside: the Knight Bus, the bridge to Hogwarts, Number 4, Privet Drive, the Potter House (which they were still working on when we visited), the Ford Anglia, and some giant chess pieces. Be sure to take hop on the Knight Bus or Hagrid's motorcycle and in the Ford Anglia to snap a few pictures.
It's now time for the second and last studio, studio K. Though I'm much more into costumes, sets and props, I must say that this part of the tour impressed me just as much, if not more, as the first studio. There, you get to see the goblin masks and makeup, dragons, a breathtaking Fawkes model, the scale costumes, the Dobby doll Daniel Radcliffe carried to his grave (*blows nose and sniffs loudly*), as well as quite a few animatronics like a mandrake, the flayed baby Voldemort, and the much impressive Buckbeak. That's where I met the most awesome little girl, dressed in velvet Gryffindor robes, bowing to the Hippogriff like a champion (she wasn't the only one either). I unfortunately didn't ask for her name, but she sure knew her canon back to front!
From the animatronics we walked up Diagon Alley (starting from Gringotts Wizarding Bank rather than the wall behind The Leaky Cauldron) and got to admire the many shop fronts of Ollivanders, Quality Quidditch Supplies, and Weasley's Wizard Wheezes, to name only a few. Once again, the attention to details left us speechless. After the last shop, you enter a room filled with what can only be described as tons of blue prints, concept art and miniature models of everything from the Whomping Willow to the Burrow and the Quidditch World Cup stands. There, you can learn precisely how high the topmost turret on the Burrow is, admire concept art so beautiful you just want to steal it and hang it in your living room, and stare in awe at the miniatures which are so detailed it's unbelievable. For example, if you look closely inside the miniature created for the Prefect's bathroom, you'll be able to spot the mermaid stained glass window. It was so small taking a picture of it proved to be difficult.
Once you're out of that room, you round a corner and are faced with the pièce de résistance of the whole tour: the Hogwarts scale model. I'm sure you'll recall the reaction the kids had in the Philosopher's Stone/Sorcerer's Stone movie when they first caught a glimpse of the castle from their little boats. Well, that's exactly how you'll react when seeing this miniature (which is still at least a story high) of everyone's beloved School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. We thought we had seen attention to details in the rooms we had visited thus far, but it was nothing, absolutely nothing when compared to what was achieved with the castle. In all honesty, you need either binoculars or a very good camera zoom to fully experience what you are seeing; your eyes alone are probably not strong enough. The little lamp posts are so small they'd make the pen you have on your desk at home look enormous. The bridge is made of pieces of wood that are so tiny you'd think they're toothpicks. They say that if only one person had worked on this project, it would have taken said person 74 years to complete it, and I have no trouble believing it. To be honest, I don't think the English language (or any other, for that matter) includes words powerful enough to express what I got to admire in that room. The fact that the lighting would show Hogwarts throughout the day and night only added to the magnificence.
After that, you'd think the journey was over. What could the Studio tour possibly have left in store? The credits, of course, but with a little wizard twist. After the Hogwarts castle room, you enter a room filled with wand boxes, though they're probably stacked in a more ordered fashion than at Ollivander's. On many of those wand boxes, you notice a label. Oh! I know that name! Here's Daniel Radcliffe! And J.K. Rowling! And Warwick Davis! But who on earth is David Smith? And Nicholas Henderson? And Victoria King? Ask Stephen, the employee stationed there, he'll probably know, as the man's knowledge of wandlore is second to Ollivander's and of the Harry Potter cast and crew is probably unprecedented. In case you haven't guessed it yet, the labels list the name of every single person who has ever worked on the Harry Potter films, whether they were actors, sound recorders, drivers or concept artists. There are 4,000 labels in that room, which puts everything you've seen during the tour into perspective. Yes, you can find the wand boxes for each and every single actor in the movies, but bottom line is, you'll have to find them, because they are hidden among thousands of others who made the movies what they are. As talented as they are, the actors wouldn't have been able to make Jo Rowling's world come alive the way they did had it not been for all those people working in the shadows. Sure, Jason Isaacs can say Lucius' lines just as well in boxers (ladies, you're welcome for that visual!) than he can wearing his robes, but the effect would have been far from being the same had the costuming crew not been there to sew them. And Warwick Davis sure is a wonderful actor, but let's face it, he really doesn't look like a goblin without the makeup on. Seeing that room, you can't help say a silent thank you to each and every single label/person for the hard work and dedication they have put into those films.
Then you enter the gift shop. So that's it now, the tour is over, right? Insert a big buzzer sound here, because it's not! Even there, there are props to see. The lanterns are the ones that can be found in Slughorn's office, and the shelves are the ones that can be found in the library scenes, though we've been told they had to cut a portion of them so they would fit. The wall behind the cash register is also the one in front of which Gringotts goblins can be found working. The cashiers did were very happy to mention how cool they thought that they had the privilege to work in such a setting. The gift shop is obviously filled with treasures for all budgets, from cheap £2.95 Dark Mark lollipop to £39.95 sweaters and more expensive collectors' pieces.
So the tour being over, what do I wish I had done differently? The most obvious would have been to charge my camera battery. Then I either would have left the heels at home or sat down way more often to give my poor feet a break. Last but not least, I wish I had taken more breaks but taken more time in each section, reading every sign, talking to every employee there, etc. I thought to myself "I'll go back and do that later", but in the end, I never did.
A few of my work colleagues asked me which I find better between the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, the Warner Bros. Studio Tour, and the Harry Potter: The Exhibition (which is currently touring in Australia). My answer is that they're all different in their own unique way. The Exhibition allowed you to sit in Hagrid's chair, throw quaffles through golden hoops, and visit sets that weren't shown at the Studio Tour. However, the fact that you can't take a single picture, unless they've changed the rules, without having a prefect following you around makes it a lot less enjoyable. As for the WWoHP, it has the added bonus of letting you visit the inside of shops like Weasley's Wizard Wheezes, as well as eat inside The Three Broomsticks, not to mention the rides, which I enjoyed a lot. And you've just read my full report on the WB Studio Tour. So in short, if you can, visit them all. However, if you had to pick only one, I'd pick the Warner Bros. Studio Tour, if only for the sheer quantity of things you get to see.
I had a truly amazing time visiting the London Studios, and I'd like to thank the WB Studio Tour staff, as well as MuggleNet, especially Keith and Micah, for this wonderful and unique opportunity. And of course, thank you to J.K. Rowling for thinking about Harry and writing his adventures. At the end of the wand room, there was a quote by her that said: "The stories we love best do live in us forever. Whether you come back by page or by the big screen, Hogwarts will always be there to welcome you home". So my question to Jo is… When can I move in?
Hidden away in west Hertfordshire, magic is happening. Over 10 years of Harry Potter film history is being unearthed and put on display where, next spring, it'll form one of the UK's most extraordinary attractions. I'm talking about none other than Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter at Leavesden Studios.
Imagine being able to step foot inside The Great Hall, to come face-to-face with a Basilisk, to step inside THE Ford Anglia used in the films – that is just a small taste of what's on offer to fans everywhere. The truly unique tour will let you venture behind-the-scenes and witness first-hand the craftsmanship and magic that has gone into making one of the most successful film franchises of all-time.
A few weeks ago I was invited for a sneak peek behind-the-scenes of the Studio Tour to see how the development was coming along and to take a glance at some of the sets, creatures, special effects and props that will be featured in the tour. Despite the fact that there is plenty of work still to be done ahead of the launch, I was given a clear vision of what they hoped to achieve.
Everything is being done with great care and respect to ensure an authentic representation of the Harry Potter films. Whilst some of the sets are still erected in their original format, many of the structures and props have been kept in storage where they have faced damage and decay. Drafted to repair and painstakingly restore the items are the team originally involved in creating them. Production Designer Stuart Craig, Make-up Effects Artist Nick Dudman, Stephanie McMillan, a whole host of industry experts have returned to bring the world of Potter alive one final time.
The Tour
The first thing to note is that this place is huge! Set in over 150,000 square feet, the tour will be housed in two studios (J and K – a coincidental homage to the wonderful author behind it all), as well as an exterior space for some of the outdoor sets and props. With great respect to the studios history, the old Rolls-Royce factory buildings will be preserved – it is this level of care and proficiency that is evident throughout the planning and development of the tour.
The attraction is estimated to take three hours and the studios are expecting around 5,000 visitors a day. The pre-booked tickets will be allocated to time slots with around 120 people per session. A free shuttle bus will be on hand to transport visitors from Watford Junction to the heart of the studios.
As fans arrive at the visitor's entrance they will be immediately presented with props protruding from the ceiling. I'm talking about either a Hawthorne Dragon or a Basilisk suspended from the roof! To the left will be a cafe (no butterbeer, I'm afraid!) and to the right will be a gift shop that will sell some unique merchandise only available at the tour.
The experience starts with 8 digital screens playing footage from all of the films – building the hype and showing you the result of everything you are about to see henceforth. As the footage concludes you will be taken to a cinema where you will see some exclusive messages from the cast and crew reminiscing over their time on the set that many of them called home for the best part of a decade. From here, visitors will be taken to the most iconic and breathtaking of the sets that will feature in the tour, The Great Hall. Moved for the first time in 11 years, it has been meticulously rebuilt like a complex jigsaw so that you can witness the sheer scale and detail of the magnificent structure. Before entering the solid oak doors, you can marvel at the statues that surround The Entrance Hall, which are brought to life by McGonagall in The Battle of Hogwarts.
The Great Hall itself will be decked out prior to The Battle of Hogwarts and will be decorated with the house colors. What is evident here is the level of detail that goes into every single prop. The cutlery for the 1,000 extras was hand-dipped in gold, the tables were distressed before filming and then vandalized by extras (as encouraged by Stuart Craig), all of which added an extra level of authenticity. You will be able to walk on the same York Stone floor and take a seat at one of the house tables used in the films. For the first time you will be able to witness the faint markings of the house emblems on the walls, things that aren't clearly visible when you watch the movies.
At the teachers table will be a showcase of the costumes of the Hogwarts staff including Dumbledore, McGonagall and Snape. There will also be the House Points vial, containing the very beads that left a national bead shortage when they were installed in 2000.
One of the films oldest sets, The Gryffindor Common Room will also appear in the tour and will be featured next to the Boys Dormitory. Visitors will only be able to walk partway into these sets – a decision that was rightly made to allow them to furnish the rooms full of props for you to admire. You will be able to see the original beds that were made for Harry, Ron, Seamus, Neville and Dean, which they quickly outgrew during filming. On one of many screens detailing information about the sets you will discover that filmmakers had to use camera angles to hide the fact that the teenagers could no longer fit in their beds. It is these insights that make the tour very personal and informative.
Some of the other sets that will be featured on the tour include Dumbledore's Office (with the Griffin doorway, the Pensieve and Portraits), the Black Family Tapestry, parts of the Library, the Ministry of Magic (specifically the fireplaces, Umbridge's Office and the infamous Magic is Might Statue), Hagrid's Hut, the Potion's Classroom, the Cupboard Under The Stairs (which you can go inside) and the Weasley Kitchen.
Outside there will be number 4 Privet Drive, the Riddle tomb, the Hogwarts Bridge and the chess pieces used in the Philosopher's Stone. With some decisions still to be made there may be additional props added outside, with the chance of rotating the pieces throughout the year.
We were told on the tour that there are over 180 shipping containers worth of props and sets, which are available for use on the tour. We can expect to see several display cases scattered around containing some of these items. In addition to these props, will be those hanging from ceilings and walls, including Hagrid's motorbike, the Gringotts cart from Deathly Hallows – Part 2 and Quidditch Brooms. Each will have green screens behind them with moving backgrounds to demonstrate the film technique.
Perhaps the biggest surprise of the tour is discovering that elements in the films you expect to be done by CGI were not. A perfect example of this is the beautiful door to the Chamber of Secrets, complete with moving parts. You'll be able to witness some of the special effects first-hand, as Lupin's Trunk folds away before your eyes and Moody's trunk unlocks to reveal an imprisoned Mad-Eye at the bottom (using carefully placed mirrors). In the Weasley Kitchen you'll be able to use hand gestures to animate objects like saucepans and chopping knives and watch the magic unfurl before your very eyes.
Also present will be 3 of the 15 Ford Anglia's that were used in the filming. One will be specially made to provide a photo opportunity with you inside of the car. It is worth mentioning that you will be able to take photographs throughout the tour.
Another huge part of the tour is the creatures and animatronics section. For those interested in filmmaking, you'll get to see how prosthetics and models were used to create lifelike creatures. The sheer level of detail here took me back; we were told for instance that there were several versions of Fawkes the Phoenix, each one had the feathers individually painted and attached. When we were there, art designers were working on Aragog (which is huge!) and they were individually adding each hair to the leg one-by-one. This level of intricacy is something you don't always appreciate until you see it up close and personal.
In the creature workshop visitors will be able to see the Basilisk, Buckbeak, the Hog's Head plaque, the Hungarian Horntail, Goblins, an eerily dead Charity Burbage and the freakishly tall Aragog.
My Thoughts
What I like most about the Studio Tour is the level of honesty and authenticity it bestows. Whilst breathtaking and overwhelming, the tour is in parts very raw – you will be able to see the scaffolding, plaster and tape that holds the sets together. This gutsy decision was made so that you, the fan, will get to experience things exactly as the cast and crew did when they shot the films. Everything has been done with thought behind it – with Michael Finney telling us that even the lighting and time of day was part of the complex decision making. The Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter, is a celebration of the craftsmanship of filmmaking of Harry Potter and I highly recommend it!
Due to huge demand, tickets will only be available through pre-booking – they will not be sold on site. You can buy tickets online at www.wbstudiotour.co.uk, when they go on sale, on October 13th 2011 or from approved tour operators. Tickets will be priced at £28 for adults, £21 for children and £83 for a family of four.
So on Sunday I went back to Leavesden Studios (Now Warner Bros Studios Leavesden I guess…) with some of the other Potterkids (yes, that's what we call each other) to see the WB Studio Tour. IT'S ACTUALLY REALLY GOOD. That probably sounds like a shameless plug or something, but it genuinely is!
Seeing the studios again after nearly two years was very, very odd; the place has completely changed, which for film crews and tour goers is great, it was definitely a little strange for me personally though, even though I only shot there for a week.
SO THE TOUR ITSELF. I don't want to give away too many spoilers… hmm. Well, for starters, there's a really cool looking café at the start. That's not too spoiler-y right? I ended up waiting at said café for a while; Ryan (Hugo) Ellie (Lily, Harry's mama, not daughter) and Ben (Young Sev!) had booked an earlier slot, and Helena (Rose) had gotten stuck somewhere in central London, thus I waited with a Sprite, people watching, as you do! So I now hold fond memories of that café, I recommend it etc etc.
We started the first part of the tour by opening the huge doors into the Great Hall, and then the hangar after that had a huge collection of various sets from the series, which are just amazing to see in person, the amount of detail, and obvious amount of effort that the set designers put into them, is just incredible. So props to them for that (did you see what I did there?!). There's parts of the Ministry of Magic set too, that especially took me back to when I did Potter; we all did our first rehearsal on that set, with the trio and David Yates, and all the crew. I remember being blown away by the size of it, not to mention the fact I was even there. I guess that was a reminder of how lucky I was to be part of it!
There's a part that involves brooms and green screens… I say no more.
And then, the tour continues onward, but OUTSIDE. Yes, you heard me. OUTSIDE. And what could possibly make this outside-ness better? Butterbeer! And Hagrid's Bike! And the Knight Bus! Helena and I decided to hijack Hagrid's Bike, I got a little concerned I wasn't gonna get out of the sidecar after I got in, but I just about squeezed out.
So then, assuming you've finished your butterbeer (taking drink indoors is a nono), we proceed onwards again to, if I recall correctly, GOBLINS. And SPIDERS. My mum got especially scared by the spiders. YAY. I believe I saw Warwick Davis' face in a mould somewhere too.
It was pretty crazy seeing all the different sections, and thinking of the sheer amount of people that worked on the films. I think the number that worked on DH was around 2000.
I'm trying not to make this too much of a walkthrough, I have a feeling I'm failing. Oh well. This pic speaks for itself! Yes, it was huge.
Then the wand boxes. To sum it up, pretty much everyone that played a part in the making of the films, no matter what they did to contribute, got a wand box, which are all in this section. I think this is a really cool touch, so often crew members get a place on the credits (or not even that) and that's it, cheers, you're done, bye! But here, the wand boxes give them the extra recognition that they definitely deserve. And let's be honest, having a wand named after you is more than cool.
Seeing my own box was great too! Thankyouthankyouthankyou to Hannah who spotted Helena and I and showed them to us. And thanks for putting up with my requests for Jenny Harling and Jonny Greenwood, her knowledge of where they all are is pretty impressive… as is the enthusiasm of all the people that work there.
And then, that was it. Worth it? Oh yus. The interactivity is so good, and it was a nice little nostalgic Potter top up for me (I need one every now and again, don't we all?). I think (and hope) I can speak for the other kiddies in saying that we all loved it; we met up afterwards for a meal and were raving about it.
Oh, I couldn't resist doing this either.
I think that my studio tour was absolutely amazing; it was a totally awesome adventure. My favorite part was either seeing the mini version of the Hogwarts Castle, riding on the broom sticks or standing in the Great Hall again, I can't really decide which because they were all so fantastic! Standing in the Great Hall made me feel proud because I remembered being under the Sorting Hat, riding the broomstick was just so cool because I had never really done it before, and as for the miniature castle… well you have to see it to believe it, I think it should be the 8th Wonder of the world. Oh and I also loved finding the Wand Box with my name on in the Wand room, I can't believe it really…
Everything was mind-blowing, from art sketches to mechanical beasts like Aragog. It was mesmerising to see ALL of the sets and props they used from the first film all the way to the last. All of the crew put so much effort into the making; they had to make sure that every minor detail was correct like every strand of hair on the Goblins to every one of Buckbeak's feathers. It is totally incredible to think that all of this originated from the imagination of J.K. Rowling… Wow completely mind blowing!!!
I recommend a visit to everyone, I think they should go and experience this wicked adventure.